At the end of 24 grueling hours of competition, the 2014 World’s Toughest Mudder champion’s podium supported some familiar mud-encrusted soles.

In a field of 1,200 of the world’s fiercest extreme adventure athletes, six champions: one man, one woman and four teammates, respectively covered the most miles of obstacle-riddled Vegas desert terrain in 24 hours to claim the title of World’s Toughest Mudder 2014.

In addition to tackling dozens of adrenaline-inducing obstacles, on Tough Mudder event day, Mudders must also run through a gauntlet of emotions. From start line nerves to finish line euphoria, the emotions that Mudders experience are as diverse and exhilarating as the obstacles themselves.

And while every Mudder journey is unique, there are three moments you’re absolutely guaranteed to have on a Tough Mudder course.

You’ve seen him on course and on our YouTube Channel. He’s whipped you into shape and mesmerized you with his swiveling hips. But what’s seriously up with that Coach T. Mud dude? We caught up with Coach in his Lake Tahoe home to learn more about the man behind the aviators.

In training for a Tough Mudder, most people execute their extreme workouts in gyms. Others take a more hands-on approach—hitting the great outdoors and channeling their inner animal. One Mudder, however, takes animalistic training to a whole new level.

Meet 24-year-old safari park keeper and future Tough Mudder Scotland finisher Graeme Alexander, practitioner of quite possibly the world’s ‘wildest’ workout routine. So with whom and where does Graeme train? With Rhinos. At a safari park. In Scotland.

Thousands of people around the world have come through the Tough Mudder Volunteer Program, and we’re thankful for every single one of them. But there’s one Mudder who has gone beyond the call of duty for the past two years, spending countless hours of her free time to ensure that no Mudder gets left behind, in every sense of the term.

Sticking to New Year’s resolutions ain’t pretty. Sadly, our December ambition often fails to meet our January commitment. But 2015 is going to be different. Why? Cause Mudder Nation is in your corner, and we’re here to show you five surefire ways to stick to your 2015 resolutions--whatever they may be.

Toeing the start line of Tough Mudder Chicago 2014, Gaby Martinez stands beside her long-term companion, (let's call him "Dave"), blending into the sea of Mudders at the 10am start wave. Start line emcee Sean Corvelle encourages all Mudders to take a knee. Gaby takes Dave’s hand as Sean lightens his tone. "Look around you," he says, pausing to scan the crowd. “Every single one of us has one thing in common.

If we told you that a four-year-old Aussie has completed two Tough Mudders, you’d probably wonder what’s going on over at Tough Mudder Australia headquarters in Melbourne.

But fear not: Roxie, the youngest Mudder to cross our finish line, is not of Australian citizenship but breed, and her owner, Army Staff Sergeant Desiree Rincon of Tampa, would never dream of putting her in harm's way.

10. 'FIRE IN YOUR HOLE' IS AS INSANE AS IT LOOKS

Ominously looming over the Tough Mudder course, this fire-breathing beast of an obstacle, the crown jewel of Legionnaire’s Loop, is accessible only to Mudder Legionnaires-- Mudders with one or more previous Tough Mudder finishes.

Tough Mudder's 10-12 mile military-style obstacle course is about much more than overcoming on-course obstacles-- it's a chance for people around the world to test their fitness while bonding with friends and fellow Mudders and overcoming physical, mental and personal obstacles along the way.

One of the first things you’ll notice upon walking into Tough Mudder Headquarters is a cast of characters as electrifying and diverse as our on-course obstacles. And while there’s no doubt you’re familiar with our military-style obstacles, few have a chance to meet the minds behind the mud-coated madness. So to give you a behind-the-scenes, insider look at TMHQ, over the next few months, we’ll be serving up some TMHQ Q&As to help you get to know some of our most admired team members.

After Global Mudder 2014 put Tough Mudder in the international spotlight, we decided to go even bigger in 2015. On the weekend of September 12 and 13, thousands of Mudders across the United States, Germany, the UK and Australia tackled Tough Mudder’s 10- to 12-mile world-class obstacle course and proved, once again, that Mudder Nation is a global force that’s here to stay.

Tough Mudder's 10-12 mile military-style obstacle course is about much more than overcoming on-course obstacles-- it's a chance for people around the world to test their fitness while bonding with friends and fellow Mudders and overcoming physical, mental and personal obstacles along the way.